I DONT KNOW HOW LONG A POPPY SEED can actually lie dormant, but I know that precious things are often a long time coming. Though another image was scheduled for today, “the poppy doodle,” as we refer to it, just seemed made for this historic week, Andre and I agreed. We pray that many beautiful things arise and unfold, including some late-blooming miracles whose time has now arrived.
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
In the UK and Europe Poppies are significant for another reason at the moment too; they covered the war torn fields after WW1, and have for the last 90 years been the symbol of the act of Rememberance, which take place over the next few days, culminating at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month; Armistice.
I enjoyed your doodle.
Zoë
Welcome, Zoe. Thank you for adding this layer of meaning…beautiful. I hope that we will see you soon again here.
Historic week it was, I still have chills.
Thank you for sharing the poppies, great things will unfold and grow now.
Beautiful words and doodle..(I just love andre jordan) Your blog inspires me so…
Just lovely. It has been a wonderful, memorable week.
A bright future.
Cameron
Yes, a very memorable November 4th (my very first American birthday and a new President).
I think it took me 40 years to find my place in this world.
very nice to see the doodle and to see Zoë making the poignant link that was once well known over here, too.
( The famous poem that starts ” In Flanders fields the poppies blow/between the crosses, row on row…”
was written by a Canadian, and those of us of a certain age remember grizzled old men peddling artificial poppies for charity on 11/11, even after Armistice Day became Veterans Day.)
The Flanders poppies are P. rhoeas, btw, a weed in its native haunts that’s almost always bright red. I’ve been letting the cultivar called Angels Choir self-sow for years, selecting for soft pastels and grays, but some reds keep popping up anyway. Always attributed that to robust genes but now that Andre and Margaret have revealed how long the seeds can lie dormant, maybe what I’ve seen is that the red ones pace themselves, maximizing their chances to prosper and spread.
Amen.
–Johanna
Welcome to bmommy, who obviously has very good taste in doodlers and garden bloggers. :)
I first got excited about poppies when one appeared by surprise in the foundations of a rental house after I’d started digging a shade bed. I’m pretty sure it was twenty years since the last gardener and although I’ve had bad luck with them in flats, I just close my eyes and scatter them in the fall and eventually nature gets them to bloom. Nice symbolism.
Beautifully put–and illustrated.
–Kate
Welcome to themanicgardener. We are glad to have you with us (especially since, like bmommy, you have such spot-on taste in word and illos). :)
Thank you for this sweet doodle Andre. I meant to comment last week but was in such a euphoric state that I forgot.
Dear Mr. Andre Jordan,
I have had the most horrific few years. It’s curious as to why I am alive. I’ve been assaulted several times, lost everything, became homeless through sub-zero weather. My life was threatened with a gun, and I had my skull and my face fractured. I’m not lying- I know that people can be whomever they want on the web, but I sure as hell do not want to be this! The point is, two days ago I went out of my home, which I almost never do, (PTSD and all) and I spent all day in a book store. I had never heard of your work before, but I stumbled on “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now.” I’m on disability now, and as such I usually don’t buy new books though I love them. Your book has really lifted me up. Your book made me laugh out loud which I haven’t done in so long, and most of all, made me feel less alone.
I can never express my gratitude.
Welcome, Selena. Thank you for so candidly sharing your story. I think Andre’s book is what we need to heal what ails us, indeed. I will make sure he sees your comment, and take good care.
thank you Selena
you are most kind
everything is possible. everything is possible
andre